Allan John's Story.
Allan was born in 1892 in Chester to parents George and Elizabeth. They were living at 44 Princess Street, Chester when he enlisted on 3rd March 1915 to the newly formed 3/5th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. Before enlisting he worked as a bricklayer for McLellan Bros. Chester. Early training was at Oswestry before moving to the 4th Reserve Battalion based at Birkenhead on the Wirral.
On 17th November 1916 Allan left Southampton for Le Havre and settled at the Base Camp at Rouen. His active service was about to begin. By the 5 December 1916 he was posted to the 13th Battalion of the Regiment as a Private, despite having reached the rank of acting Sergeant previously. Within days he was at the frontline at Ploegsteert Wood. However, within a few days he fell ill and was sent to No. 1 Stationary Hospital at Rouen. By the end of January 1917, he was moved to No. 2 Conv. Depot and was back at the Base Camp 5 days later.
On 1st March 1917 he rejoined the Regiment at Acquin and within a fortnight was promoted to Lance Corporal. The next two months were taken up with various training exercises and working parties around Nieppe, Le Grand Beaumart and Neuve Eglise (Nieuwkerke).
Allan's first experience of the frontline came on 25th April 1917 in the St Quentin Cabaret sector near Wulverghem. The Battalion engaged in destroying the enemy wire by Mortar Farm for five days and returned to this sector on 16th & 24th May.
Training continued at the end of May and the beginning of June at Mentques and La Creche before the Battalion was involved in the Battle of Messines (7th to 14th June). The attack to capture the Messines Ridge was an important success as a preliminary operation before the 3rd Battle of Ypres. The Battalion remained in the frontline around Messines until 22 June. They then retired to Matringhem and Fruges until the 22 July. During this time Allan was appointed Asst. Signalling Instructor.
The 3rd Battle of Ypres commenced on the 31 July 1917 and the 13th Cheshire's had moved up to Abele in readiness. By the 5 August they were positioned on the Bellewarde Ridge and on the 9th had moved to Westhoek Ridge.
The next day, attempting to take Glencorse Wood, heavy resistance was met from the enemy, and it was here that Allan was killed. His body was never recovered/identified, and he is named on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.
Researched and written by Chris Bent.
Researched and written by Chris Bent.